Private Iyuzeh (preservative-free latanoprost) drops cost UK 2026

In the UK in 2026, preservative-free latanoprost drops cost roughly £8–£14 per month privately (the US brand is Iyuzeh; the established UK product is Monoprost). Standard preserved generic latanoprost is cheaper still, around £1.50–£3 per bottle. The drops are the inexpensive part of glaucoma treatment — the meaningful cost is the consultant ophthalmologist assessment (from £200) and the ongoing monitoring of eye pressure, optic-nerve OCT scans and visual fields that keeps your sight safe. This page sets out realistic 2026 private pricing and where preservative-free latanoprost fits.

UK 2026 cost: drops, consultation and monitoring

Latanoprost is a once-daily prostaglandin analogue and the most widely prescribed first-line drop for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The medicine itself is off-patent and cheap; the difference between products is the preservative. Here is what the components typically cost privately in 2026:

Ongoing glaucoma monitoring visits (repeat IOP, OCT and visual fields) are typically £150–£350 each, with most stable patients seen every 4–12 months — so realistic annual private glaucoma care is around £400–£900 including drops. If drops alone do not control your pressure, definitive options such as SLT laser or glaucoma surgery may be discussed. See the full glaucoma pricing overview for procedures.

What is Iyuzeh (preservative-free latanoprost)?

Latanoprost is a prostaglandin analogue (PGA). It lowers intraocular pressure by increasing the drainage of fluid (aqueous humour) out of the eye, mainly through the uveoscleral pathway. A single drop at night typically reduces eye pressure by 25–35% — the largest pressure drop of any single drop class — which is why it is the standard first-line treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Iyuzeh (Théa) is the first preservative-free latanoprost 0.005% formulation, approved by the US FDA in December 2022. Its advantage is the absence of benzalkonium chloride (BAK), the preservative used in most multidose eye drops. In the UK, the equivalent preservative-free latanoprost has been available for several years as Monoprost, so UK patients who need a BAK-free prostaglandin already have access to one — the Iyuzeh brand itself is a US product. Whichever brand, the active drug, dosing (one drop each evening) and pressure-lowering effect are the same.

Preservative-free vs preserved: who needs BAK-free?

BAK is an effective antimicrobial preservative, but with long-term daily use it can disrupt the tear film and ocular surface, causing stinging, redness, dryness and inflammation. Because glaucoma drops are usually taken for life, preservative load matters. Preservative-free latanoprost is most worthwhile if you:

• Have pre-existing dry eye or ocular surface disease
• Use more than one preserved drop daily (cumulative BAK exposure)
• Experience stinging, redness or irritation on preserved latanoprost
• Wear contact lenses or have had prior ocular surface surgery
• Are likely to be on drops for many years, including younger patients
• May need glaucoma surgery later — a healthier conjunctiva improves surgical success

For many patients with healthy eyes, preserved generic latanoprost is perfectly acceptable and far cheaper. The honest position is that preservative-free is a quality-of-life and surface-health upgrade, not a stronger drug.

Alternatives to latanoprost

If latanoprost is not tolerated or does not lower your pressure enough, there are several routes, all of which a consultant can cost and explain at assessment:

• Other prostaglandin analogues — travoprost, bimatoprost and tafluprost (tafluprost is available preservative-free). Effects are broadly similar with slightly different tolerability.
• Fixed-combination drops — for example a netarsudil-latanoprost combination; see our guide to Roclanda (netarsudil-latanoprost).
• SLT laser — selective laser trabeculoplasty is now offered as a first-line alternative to drops and can reduce or remove the need for daily medication.
• Sustained-release implants — such as Durysta (bimatoprost implant) or the iDose TR travoprost implant, which deliver medication inside the eye for months at a time.
• Glaucoma surgery — MIGS, trabeculectomy or tube surgery where pressure is uncontrolled; see glaucoma surgery cost.

For a plain-English overview of how these compare, read glaucoma treatment options: drops vs SLT vs MIGS, and our glaucoma treatment and glaucoma condition pages.

NHS vs private latanoprost

Latanoprost — preserved or preservative-free — is routinely prescribed on the NHS, and the drug itself is inexpensive in both settings. So you do not need to go private simply to obtain the drops. People choose private glaucoma care for speed of assessment, choice and continuity of consultant, and faster access to monitoring, SLT laser or surgery, rather than for the medication. A common pattern is a private consultation and initial work-up, with the GP then continuing the prescription on the NHS once the regimen is stable. Your consultant will be clear about what can be shared with your GP.

Side effects of latanoprost

Latanoprost is generally well tolerated. Known effects, which you should understand before starting long-term treatment, include:

• Iris colour change — gradual, usually permanent darkening of the iris, more noticeable in mixed-colour (hazel/green-brown) eyes. Cosmetic, not harmful.
• Eyelash changes — longer, thicker, darker lashes (hypertrichosis); can be uneven if only one eye is treated.
• Periocular skin darkening — usually reversible on stopping.
• Prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy (PAP) — deepening of the upper-eyelid sulcus and a slightly hollow/sunken eye appearance with long-term use.
• Conjunctival redness and a mild foreign-body or stinging sensation, more likely with preserved (BAK-containing) drops.
• Rarely, macular oedema or reactivation of eye inflammation in susceptible patients.

Switching to preservative-free latanoprost mainly helps with surface symptoms (stinging, redness, dryness); the iris and eyelash effects are properties of the drug, not the preservative.

Frequently asked questions